Paulownia tree named ‘WEGROW-B7’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Paulownia  hybrid tree named ‘WEGROW-B7’ which is characterized by a fast rate of growth, developing a large diameter trunk in a relatively short period of time, an upright trunk with a narrow canopy, and high frost tolerance. The claimed plant propagates successfully by softwood stem cuttings and has proven to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Paulownia hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Paulownia hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘WEGROW-B7’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The claimed tree is a spontaneous whole-plant mutation of an unnamed and unpatented Paulownia elongata x Paulownia fortunei hybrid plant which was discovered by the inventor in the summer of 2012 at a commercial tree farm in Bonn, Germany. The mutation was noted for its fast rate of growth, near vertical trunk and narrow foliar canopy.

Asexual Reproduction: In the summer of 2012, ‘WEGROW-B7’ was first asexually reproduced by way of meristematic tissue culture micropropagation in Bonn, Germany. The claimed tree was found to asexually reproduce in uniform and stable manner and 6 successive cycles of vegetative propagation have proven to be true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Paulownia tree, ‘WEGROW-B7’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘WEGROW-B7’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. ‘WEGROW-B7’ exhibits an upright trunk with a narrow canopy         which, in cultivation for timber production, equates to a higher         planting density and a lesser pruning requirement; and     -   2. ‘WEGROW-B7’ develops a large diameter trunk in a relatively         short period of time which, in cultivation for timber         production, equates to a relatively short production cycle; and     -   3. ‘WEGROW-B7’ exhibits large, medium green leaves; and     -   4. ‘WEGROW-B7’ exhibits frost tolerance to minus ten degrees         Celsius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, a field-grown ‘WEGROW-B7’ tree at approximately 3.5 years of age, during spring in Tonisvorst, Germany.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the exemplary mature foliage of ‘WEGROW-B7’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the oldest wood of a mature field-grown ‘WEGROW-B7’ tree.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct Paulownia hybrid plant known as ‘WEGROW-B7’. Plant observations were made on a 3.5 year-old field-grown tree in Tonisvorst, Germany. The observed tree was grown in full exposure to natural sunlight, and maintained with drip irrigation. No pest or pathogen countermeasures were employed. Two years after planting the observed tree into the field, the tree was pruned to the soil level in May of 2018 and allowed to regrow for approximately 1.5 years. Observation data was then recorded in November of 2019.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘WEGROW-B7’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘WEGROW-B7’ and comparisons with the parent and most similar commercial cultivar are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Deciduous tree with an upright ascending,             moderately branching growth habit.         -   Tree canopy profile.—Rotund.         -   Dimensions.—The original tree grew to approximately 7.75             meters tall and 2.25 meters wide.         -   Plant vigor.—Very vigorous.         -   Growth rate.—Very fast growing.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Cold hardy to at least minus −10             degrees Celsius; prefers well drained soils with regular             irrigation, and full sun exposure.         -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—Plants have             not been observed to be susceptible or resistant to             pathogens and pests common to Paulownia sp.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by way of             meristematic tissue culture micropropagation.         -   Crop time.—When cultivated for timber production,             approximately five growing seasons are needed to first             harvest and an additional two seasons for main harvest. -   Root system:     -   -   Description.—A network of fibrous, non-fleshy roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense, and             relatively shallow in the soil profile. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—A dominant, near-vertical central main             stem, typically unbranched, gives rise to unbranched lateral             branches. Main stem; central leader — Quantity — One.             Attitude — Erect; near vertical. Aspect — Generally rounded.             Diameter — 12.0 cm, at breast height. Strength — Very             strong. Texture — Glabrous, lenticellate and becoming             progressively fissured with age. Lenticels are irregularly             elliptical to elliptical and range in size from 0.5 mm to             5.0 mm long and 1.0 to 5.0 mm wide; color is greyed-green,             nearest to in between RHS 197D and 199D. Color, juvenile —             Greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 197B, 197C, and             197D; irregularly blotched and banded with greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 196B. Moderately suffused with a mixture of             green, RHS 144A, and yellow-green, RHS 146A; suffusion             becomes less pronounced as the wood ages. Color, oldest wood             — Brown, nearest to a mixture of RHS 199B, 200A, 200B, 200C             and 200D; irregularly blotched and banded with greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 196B; fissures are in nearest to in between             yellow-green and greyed-orange, RHS 152A and 177B. Lateral             branches — Quantity — 7.5, on average. Attitude — Very             upright; very acute crotch angles. Aspect — Round. Diameter             — 7.0 cm at the base, on average. Stem strength — Strong.             Texture and luster — Glabrous, moderately glossy, and             moderately lenticellate. Lenticels are irregularly             elliptical to elliptical and range in size from 1.0 mm to             5.0 mm long and 1.0 to 4.0 mm wide; color is greyed-green,             nearest to in between RHS 197D and 198D. Color —             Greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 199B, 199C, and             199D; irregularly blotched and banded with greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 196B. Moderately suffused with a mixture of             green, RHS 144A, and yellow-green, RHS 146D. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Shape.—Broadly rhomboid to broadly cordate.         -   Length.—39.6 cm.         -   Width.—38.0 cm.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Lobate to sagitate.         -   Margin.—Ciliate; serrate to doubly serrate; slightly to             moderately undulated.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Texture and pubescence, adaxial surface.—Glabrous, slightly             bullate, and slightly glossy.         -   Texture and pubescence, abaxial surface.—Pubescent, slightly             bullate and matte.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 143A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 143A and 143B.             Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 143A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to in between RHS 143A and 143B.         -   Venation.—Pattern — Palmate. Vein color, adaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146D. Vein color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C.         -   Petiole.—Length — 10.0 to 14.0 mm. Diameter — 0.6 to 1.0 cm.             Texture, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Moderately             pubescent. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS             144A and N144A, and suffused with yellow-green, RHS 152A. -   Inflorescence: To date, no flowering has been observed. -   Flower bud: To date, no flowering has been observed. -   Flower: To date, no flowering has been observed. -   Reproductive organs: To date, no flowering has been observed. -   Fruit and seed: To date, no fruiting has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH THE PRESUMED PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘WEGROW-B7’ differ from the parent, an unnamed Paulownia hybrid tree (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘WEGROW-B7’ The parent Tree height. Taller than the parent. Shorter than ‘WEGROW- B7’. Growth rate. Faster growing than Slower growing than the parent. ‘WEGROW-B7’. General coloration Lighter shade of green Darker shade of green of the foliage. relative to the parent. compared to ‘WEGROW- B7’.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR PAULOWNIA HYBRID CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘WEGROW-B7’ are most similar to the commercial cultivar, Paulownia ‘Phoenix One’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 39980). A comparison of ‘WEGROW-B7’ with Paulownia ‘Phoenix One’ is described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘WEGROW-B7’ ‘Phoenix One’ Rate of growth. Faster than ‘Phoenix Slower than ‘WEGROW- One’. B7’. General coloration Lighter shade of green Darker shade of green of the mature compared to ‘Phoenix compared to ‘WEGROW- foliage. One’. B7’. Width of tree Narrower than Wider than ‘WEGROW- canopy. ‘Phoenix One’. B7’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Paulownia hybrid tree named ‘WEGROW-B7’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 